Apparatus for testing cigarettes



Sept 1 J. H. SHERRILL APPARATUS FOR TESTING CIGARETTES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed April 19, 1956 Sept. 6, 1960 J. H. SHERRILL APPARATUS FOR TESTINGCIGARETTES 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 19, 1956 h s V INVENTOR. JOSEPHHJf/EFR/LL Sept. 6, 1960 J. H. SHERRILL 2,951,364

v APPARATUS FOR TESTING CIGARETTES Filed April 19. 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4m iidk ATTUR/VEV APPARATUS FOR TESTING CIGARETTES Joseph H. Sherrill,Winston-Salem, N.C., assignor to R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company,Winston-detain, N.C., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Apr. 19, 1956,Ser. No. 579,209

16 Claims. (Cl. 73-453) This invention relates to the testing of hollow,generally cylindrical articles to determine their integrity, i.e., thepresence or absence of leaks therein. The apparatus for testingdisclosed herein is intended particularly for the testing of cigarettes.Certain features are of especial utility in connection with cigarettetesting, while other features are of broader utility in connection withother types of articles.

In the manufacture of filter tip cigarettes, it is a common practice toassemble in alignment two cigarettes of conventional length and a doublelength section of filter material located between the two cigarettes.The ends of the two cigarettes are brought into abutting relationshipwith the filter section. A band of sealing paper is then placed aroundthe section of filter material with its edges overlapping the ends ofthe cigarettes. These overlapping edges are bonded to the cigarettes,thereby forming a double unit consisting of two standard lengthcigarettes with a double length filter section between them. The doubleunit is then cut transversely at its center, resulting in the formationof two individual filter tip cigarettes.

Because of the mechanical difiiculties inherent in the problem of makingan airtight bond with the sealing paper at or near the butt jointbetween the filter material and the cigarette, it sometimes occurs thata leak develops at that joint or elsewhere around the tip. When anattempt is made to smoke a cigarette having such a leak, the smokerdraws in air through the leak. Indeed any loose or gathered or channeledcondition of the tip wrapping, such that on use of the cigarette thetendency is to draw air instead of smoke, represents a leak. Moreover,in all types of cigarettes mechanical damage or defeet in the regularpaper Wrapper that constitutes the cigarette can provide a tear oropening which, as all smokers know, does not need to be very large torepresent an annoying leak. It is desirable to eliminate all suchdefective cigarettes from the manufacturing process. To that end, it isnecessary to test each cigarette for leaks in its outer wall and towithdraw it from the manufacturing line if a leak is found.

So far as the applicant is aware, the only process previously incommercial use for locating such leaks has been a visual inspection,which is obviously inadequate since a leak large enough to make acigarette undesirable from the users standpoint can be so small orotherwise so concealed that it can not be detected. Furthermore, it iseconomically impossible, in high-speed cigarette manufacture, to achievecareful visual inspection of all sides of each and every cigarette.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatusfor testing for leaks in the Wall of a hollow article having two spacednormal openings in its wall.

Another object is to provide an improved apparatus for testingcigarettes for air leaks.

Another object is to provide a testing apparatus of the type describedwhich is adaptable to mass production Patented Sept. 6, 1960 methods andwhich may be carried out by machines substantially without supervision.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedapparatus for coupling a source of compressed air to a device passing ona conveyor belt, without removing the device from the conveyor belt.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention are attained in theapparatus described herein. The test is illustrated as applied to filtertip cigarettes, and is shown as being applied to the dual cigaretteunits before they are cut apart. It should be obvious that the testingapparatus herein is equally applicable to untipped cigarette units or tounits tipped in some other Way, and indeed directly to single cigarettesas Well as to multiple units. By making the test on the double units,however, the number of tests necessary is reduced by one-half.

The apparatus disclosed herein includes a conveyor belt consisting of aplurality of carriers linked together, each carrier being adaptedto'support a double cigarette unit. Each carrier also supports a testdevice on one end and on its opposite end carries an air supply couplingmechanism. The conveyor moves the cigarette units past a test stationwhere the coupling mechanism on each carrier is coupled to a supply ofcompressed air. If there is no leak in the cigarette unit, air isconveyed from this supply through the cigarette unit to the testingdevice on the carrier. The testing device includes a movable memberwhose position changes from a leak indicating position to a no-leakindicating position if the air is transmitted through the cigarette tothe test device. This movable member actuates a checking device locatedalongside the carrier. The checking device in turn actuates a memorydevice which indicates whether the cigarette on each particular carrierhas a leak or not. As the respective carriers later pass an ejectorstation, an ejector mechanism is controlled in accordance with therespective indications of the memory device to eject defectivecigarettes from the carrier. Since the air under pressure flows throughthe double cigarette rather slowly, the apparatus is contructed so thatthe air under pressure is supplied to one end of the cigarette for asubstantial time before the testing device at the other end of thecigarette actuates the checking mechanism to set up a leak or no-leakindication.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent froma consideration of the following description and claims, taken togetherwith the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the principal parts ofcigarette testing apparatus embodying the invention, with certain partsomitted for purposes of clarity;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the testing station of the apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a single carrier of the type shown in Figs. 1and 2, with no cigarette thereon;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line IVIV of Fig. 5, on anenlarged scale;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line VV of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line VIVI of Figs. 1 and2;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line VII VII of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a portion of theejector mechanism; and

Fig. 9 is a somewhat diagrammatic view illustrating the memory deviceand its control of the ejector.

There is shown in Fig. l a conveyor generally indicated by the referencenumeral 1 and consisting of two parallel chain belts 2 and 3 which runover sprocket wheels 5 and 6 fixed on a shaft 7. Each of the chain belts-2 and 3 isconstructed in a conventional manner, including spacedparallel links 8 connected by pins 9. Each link 8 is provided on itsupper side (as it appears when passing along the upper reach of theconveyor) with two outwardly projecting flanges 8a. The aligned flanges8a on the two link belts 2 and 3 are attached by suitable means such asthe bolts or rivets to the bottom of a carrier unit 10, one of which isillustrated in detail in Figs. 3 to 6. The conveyor 1 thus presents anendless series of carrier units 10.

Referring to Figs. 3 to 6, it may be seen that each carrier unit 10 hasan upwardly concave groove 10a formed in its upper surface. The groove10a is adapted to support a double cigarette unit. 13, including twocigarettes 13a and an intervening filter section 13b. The groove 10a issomewhat shorter than the double cigarette unit 13. The upper surface ofthe carrier It) is cut away adjacent each end of the groove 10a toprovide recesses 10b and 100. The right-hand end of the carrier 10, asviewed in the drawings, includes an upstanding flange 14 provided withan aperture 14a in which is mounted a tube 15 forming part of a testingdevice. The inner end of the tube 15 is threadedly attached to a collar16 which is adapted to abut the inner side of the flange 14. The end ofcollar 16 nearest the cigarette 13 is bevelled inwardly, as shown at 16ain Fig. 6, so that it may engage compressively the end of the cigaretteunit 13 without substantially distorting the cigarette. The tube 15 isprovided, outside the flange 14, with a flange 117. A coil spring 18 isheld in compression between the flanges 14 and 17, and biases the tube15 outwardly, to the position shown in Fig. 5. The tube :15 is providedwith an axial passage 15a. A variable restriction'in the passage 15a isprovided by means of a set screw 19 threaded through one side of thetube 15 with its inner end extending into the passage 15a. The outer endof the tube 15 is provided with a lip 15b. A rubber balloon 20 ismounted on the end of the tube 15 by sliding the rubber ring 20a at themouth of the balloon over the flange 15b.

At the left-hand end of the carrier 16, as viewed in the drawings, thereis provided an upwardly extending flange 21 generally similar to theflange 14. The flange 21 is provided with an aperture 21a in which apipe coupling 22 is fixed by means of a set screw 23. The end of thecoupling 22 nearest the cigarette =13 is bevelled inwardly, as shown at24 in Fig. 6, so that it may engage compressively the end of thecigarette unit 13 without substantially distorting the cigarette. Thepipe coupling 22 is provided with an axial aperture having a shoulder22a. Another pipe coupling 25 is slidably received in the axial aperturein the coupling 22. A coil spring 26 is located within that aperture,and is held in compression between the shoulder 22a and the couplingmember 25. The spring 26 biases the coupling member 25 outwardly of thecoupling 22, but that outward movement is limited by suitable means,shown by way of example as a pin 11 extending through the wall ofcoupling 22 and into a groove or slot 25d in the coupling 25.

The outer end of the coupling 25 is provided with a plane machinedsurface 25a in which are formed a pair of upper and lower horizontalgrooves 252 shown as having a V-shaped contour. The grooves 25e arelocated respectively above and below the central aperture 25b throughthe coupling 25. On each lateral face of the end portion of coupling 25there is provided a plane machined surface 250 (Fig. 4). On the leadingside of the coupling member 25 is provided a groove 27, having roundededges. On the trailing side of the coupling member there is mounted, byany suitable means, a ridge or flange 28, preferably made up of a numberof plies of rubber-like material. Each ridge 28 is adapted to mesh withthe groove 27 on the following carrier 10, for a purpose to be describedbelow.

An air supply manifold 29 is mounted on a stationary manifold 29 isprovided on the side nearest the coupling members 25 with an elongatedaperture 3-1 (Fig. 1). The manifold 29 is provided on its face nearestthe coupling members 25 with a pair of horizontal ridges 32 which areadapted to engage and fit within the grooves 2512 on the couplingmembers 25. The end of the manifold 29 which is firstengaged by thecoupling members 25 is provided with a diagonal surface or inclinedplane 33. The ridges 32 extend part way along the plane 33. Anotherinclined plane 33a, somewhat less steep and facing in the oppositedirection is provided on the other end of manifold 29.

As the carriers 10 approach the manifold 29, the coupling members 25 oneafter another engage the inclined plane 33 and are deflected thereby tothe right from the position shown in Fig. 5 to the position shown inFig. 6.

The flange 28 is so located with respect to the groove 27 on the nextadjacent coupling 25 that when both couplings 25 are laterally aligned,the flange 28 is squeezed tight against the outer (left hand) side ofthe groove 27 and thereby blocks the passage of air between thecouplings. The groove 27 is wide enough so that the flange 28 has roomto move laterally in it when the leading coupling 25 rides along theinclined plane 33. When the following coupling completes its travelalong plane 33, then the air seal is again effective. A perfect seal isnot necessary as the air pressure may be increased to compensate forleakage.

The inclined plane 33a is less steep than plane 33, to allow thecouplings to move outwardly at a relatively lower speed, without undulystressing the flanges 28.

As the successive couplings pass the manifold 29, the springs 26 areeffective to hold the coupling members 25 in tight engagement with themanifold 29, so that when the aperture 25b moves opposite the aperture31 in the manifold, a substantially airtight connection is provided. Theflanges 28 and the grooves 27 minimize the leakage of air between theadjacent coupling members 25e and the ridges 32 and grooves 26 minimizethe leakage of air between the coupling members 25 and the manifold 29.

An elongated cam 34 is mounted on a fixed support (not shown) at theside of the conveyor nearest the testing devices which comprise thetubes 15 and the balloons 20. As the carriers approach the cam 34,moving in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2, the flanges'17 on the successive tubes 15 engage the cam 34 and are deflected by ittoward the left, against the spring 18. The first effect of thismovement is to bring the tapered end 16a of the collar 16 intoengagement with the cigarette unit 13. As this motion continues thecigarette unit 13 is pushed to the left to the position of Fig. 6, whereits left end engages the tapered surface 24 on the coupling member 22.The two ends of the cigarette unit 13 are then in substantially airtightengagement with the coupling member 32 and the collar 16, respectively.Air under pressure from the manifold 29 then passes through thecigarette unit. The length of the manifold 29 is established inaccordance with the air flow retarding characteristics of the cigaretteso that the left end of the cigarette unit is kept under pressure for asuflicient time to inflate the balloon 20 if there is no leak in thecigarette. If there is a leak, then the balloon 20 will not be inflatedin the required time. The set screws 19 enable adjustment of the timerequired to inflate the balloons to corre-' spend with thecharacteristics of the cigarettes and to compensate for leakage whichmay occur between manifold 29 and couplings 25. v

Consequently, the testing device checks each cigarette unit as they passthe testing station which includes the 5. manifold 29 and the cam 34,and inflates the balloon 20 if the cigarette unit has no leaks.

Although the pressure responsive indication has been illustrated as aballoon 20, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the artthat other types of pressure responsive indicators may be used, as longas they are sufficiently sensitive to respond rather quickly to changesin the applied pressure. They must also respond with a substantialmovement in order that a clear distinction may be maintained between theno-leak indicating and the leak-indicating position.

Ejector apparatus and control therefor Each carrier is provided on thebottom of the groove 10a with a recess 10d somewhat shorter in overalllength than the overall length of the groove 10a and narrower than thecigarette which is adapted to rest in the groove 10a.

An aperture 35 opens through the bottom of the carrier 10 into therecess 10d. When each carrier 10 reaches the ejector station shown inFig. 7, the aperture 35 passes above an air supply block 36 including aplurality of discharge apertures 37 which open toward the aperture 35 atvarious points along the length thereof.

Within the block 36 a valve 37a cooperates with a seat 38. Valve 37a isprovided with a stem 39 which extends through the block and outwardlythereof and has a head 40 formed on its outer end. A coil spring 41 isretained between the head 40 and the block 36 and biases the valve 37atoward the seat 38. A pipe 42 is connected to a suitable supply ofcompressed air (not shown). The valve 37a controls the fiow ofcompressed air from the pipe 42 into the apertures 37. The head 40 isaligned with the armature 43 of an electromagnet 44 controlled by anelectric circuit which includes in series a switch 45 and a source ofelectrical energy (not shown).

The switch 45 comprises a spring finger 46 movable into engagement witha stationary contact 47. Both the finger 46 and the contact 47 aremounted on a stationar insulating disk 48.

The switch 45 is operated by a memory device generally indicated at 49.The memory device 49 comprises a plate 59 fixed on a shaft 51 which isrotated synchronously with the movement of the conveyor 1 by means of achain 52 connecting sprocket wheels 53 and 54 fixed on the shaft 7 andthe shaft 51 respectively.

The plate 50 has spaced around its periphery a plurality of memory pins55 which are shiftable parallel to the axis of the shaft 51 between aswitch actuating position, as illustrated in the case of the uppermostpin 55 in Fig. 7, and an inactive position illustrated in the case ofthe lowermost pin in Fig. 7. The pin at the lowermost location in Fig. 7is positioned while at that location by an electromagnet 56 controlledby a photocell 57 (Figs. 1 and 9) through a suitable electric circuitwhich may include an amplifier (not shown). A beam of light from asource 58 impinges on the photocell 57. That beam of light is broken byany inflated balloon 20 which passes on the conveyor 1 at the testingstation.

Above the conveyor 1 at the ejector station is a receiver or hood 59which is dimensioned so that it is spaced above one only of the carriers10. The hood 59 has 'its end connected through a suitable coupling joint60 to a pipe 61 connected to a source of vacuum or air at subatmosphericpressure.

The joint 60' is shown in greater detail in Fig. 8 and comprises a pairof blocks 62 and 63 contoured to receive between them the crossbar of aT 64 attached to a pipe 65 which communicates with the interior of thehood 59.

The blocks 62 and 63 are provided with a slot 66 in which the pipe 65 ismovable between operating posi tion shown in full lines in Figs. 7 and 8and in nonoperating position shown in dotted lines. The pipe 65 is incommunication with the pipe 61 when the parts 6 are in their full linepositions. Thedotted line position is provided for access to theconveyor for cleaning or repair purposes.

Operation of the ejector The number of pins between the lowermost pinlocation shown in Fig. 7 and the uppermost pin location is made exactlyequal to the number of carriers lit-between the testing station adjacentthe photocell 5'7 and the ejector station adjacent the valve block 36.Furthermore, the connection between the conveyor 1 and the plate 50 isarranged so that the pin which passes through the lowermost location ofthe plate 50 when a certain carrier 10 is passing the testing stationhas reached the uppermost location of the plate 50 when that samecarrier has reached the ejector station. When that carrier is adjacentthe testing station, the pin 55 at the lowermost location has itsposition set in accordance with the condition of the cigarette on thecarrier, i.e., as to whether that cigarette has a leak or not. If thetesting device shows a leak, then the balloon 20 in the carrier is notinflated, the light beam impinges on the photocell, as the carrierpasses the testing station, and the electromagnet 56 has its armature56a moved to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 7, thereby pushingthe adjacent pin 55 to the left so that it is set in its switchactuating position as shown in the case of the uppermost pin in Pig. 7.Consequently, when that carrier with the leaky cigarette on it reachesthe ejector station, the pin 55 closes the switch 45, energizing theelectromagnet 44 and opening the valve 37a so that a blast of compressedair is delivered through the passages 37 and 35. lifting the cigarettefrom the carrier 10 and forcing it into the hood 5? from which it iscarried away laterally to the left by the vacuum connected to pipe 61,and is suitably disposed of. As the plate 50 continues its rotation,each pin 55 which has been pushed toclose the switch 45 is returned toits initial setting before reaching the lowermost position by engagementwith the 'cam fixed on the disk 48. The pins 55 in their opcarriersubsequently passes the ejector station, the switch,- 45 is not closed,and the carrier continues to carry the;

cigarette forward. The vacuum applied at the pipe 61 is not sufficientto lift the cigarette off the carrier with-- out the aid of asimultaneous blast of compressed airthrough the block 36.

The cigarette continues through conventional manufacturing processes. InFig. l the conveyor 1 is shown as passing over a drum so that thecigarettes would be dropped on a belt 67. If desired, suitable mechanismof a conventional type may be associated with this drum to cut thedouble cigarette units into two pieces as they pass over it, so thatindividual cigarettes are deposited on the belt 67 ready for packaging.

While the invention is illustrated as applied to the testing of doublecigarette units, it is also readily applicable to individual cigarettes.Consequently, where the word cigarette is used in this specification andclaims, it is used as a generic term inclusive of double cigaretteunits, unless otherwise indicated by the context.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention,other modifications thereof will readily occur to those skilled in theart, and I therefore intend my invention to be limited only by theappended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for testing the integrity of hollow articles having onlytwo spaced openings therein connected by a restricted flow path,comprising a conveyor including articles, each mounted on one of saidcarriers, stationary means for supplying fluid under pressure, meansincluding said conveyor for moving said carriers successively past saidstationary means and effective to place one opening on each said articlein fluid communication with said fluid supply means to receive fluidunder pressure therefrom to maintain said communication for apredetermined time, and means to place the other opening on each saidarticle in fluid communication with the testing device on its carrierand to maintain said last-mentioned communication for said predeterminedtime.

2. Testing apparatus as defined in claim 1, including means yieldablysupporting each testing device on its associated carrier for movementalong a fixed path on said carrier, means on said carrier contoured tosupport one of said articles with said other opening thereof adjacent tosaid device as it moves along said path, and cam means located along thepath of movement of the conveyor and effective to engage the testingdevices on the passing carriers and to move each said device along itscarrier to engage the article thereon about the periphcry of its otheropening, thereby placing said other opening in fluid communication withthe testing device.

3. Testing apparatus as defined in claim 2 including fluid-conveyingcoupling means on each said carrier and having an opening aligned withsaid one opening of an article on said contoured support means, said cammeans being effective after said testing device is moved into engagementwith the article 'to move the device farther along the path of cammedmovement thereby carrying the article along and bringing said oneopening thereof into fluid communication with said opening in saidcoupling means.

4. Testing apparatus as defined in claim 3, in which said articles aretubular with said openings at the opposite ends thereof, and each saidcarrier is contoured with an elongated groove adapted to receive one ofsaid tubular articles, and the path of carnmed movement of said testingdevice is along theaxis of said groove.

5. Apparatus for testing the integrity of hollow articles having anopening therein, comprising a conveyor movable along a linear path andincluding a plurality of carriers for individual articles, stationarymeans adjacent the path of movement of the conveyor for supplying fluidunder pressure, fluid-conveying coupling means on each said carrier andhaving an outlet aligned with an opening in an article on the carrier,means for moving each article to bring its opening into fluidcommunication with the outlet on its associated coupling means, saidcoupling means including an inlet element having an inlet opening andadapted to cooperate with said stationary fluid supply means to supplyfluid under pressure successively to the articles passing on saidconveyor, and a pressure responsive testing device mounted on eachcarrier for fluid communication with an article thereon,

whereby the integrity of each article is tested when fluid underpressure is supplied thereto.

6. Testing apparatus as defined in claim 5, in which said inlet openingis located in a surface of said inlet element extending parallel to thepath of movement of the carrier, and including means yieldablysupporting said inlet element for movement in a direction perpendicularto said surface, said fluid supply means comprising a discharge elementhaving a discharge opening in a surface parallel to the path of movementof the carrier and a ramp having a plane surface extending in adirection diagonal to the path of conveyor movement and located in thepath of the inlet elements and adjoining said parallel surface of thedischarge element, said ramp being effective to engage the successiveinlet elements as they move with the conveyor and to move them againsttheir yieldable supporting means, so that they thereafter slidablyengage said parallel surface of the discharge element and the inletopenings on the successive inlet elements are successively brought intofluid communication with said discharge opening.

7. Testing apparatus as defined in claim 6-, including cooperatingtongue and groove surfaces on said discharge element and said inletelements, above and below the openings in said elements, to inhibitfluid leakage from said elements.

8. Testing apparatus as defined in claim 6, in which the inlet elementson adjacent carriers have abutting surfaces with cooperating tongues andgrooves elfective substantially to close the spaces between said inletelements, and the discharge opening in said discharge element extendsalong the path of the conveyor for a distance substantially greater thanthe width of one of said inlet elements, said tongues and grooves beingeffective to inhibit fluid leakage between said inlet elements.

9. Apparatus for testing the integrity of hollow articles having onlytwo spaced openings therein, comprising a conveyor including a pluralityof carriers for individual articles, a plurality of fluid pressureresponsive testing devices for individual articles, each mounted on oneof said carriers and each comprising an expansible chamber having amovable wall, stationary means for supplying fluid under pressure, meansincluding said conveyor for moving said carriers successively past saidstationary means and to place one opening on each said article in fluidcommunication with said fluid supply means to receive fluid underpressure therefrom, and means to place the other opening on each saidarticle in fluid communication with the testing device on its carrier,each said chamber being expanded by means of fluid from said fluidsupply means, if the article through which it receives said fluid iswithout leaks, said chamber being effective during expansion to movesaid wall from a first position indicating leakage to a second positionindicating the absence of leakage.

.10. Apparatus for testing cigarettes for air leaks comprising aconveyor including a plurality of carriers for individual cigarettes, aplurality of fluid pressure responsive testing devices for individualcigarettes, each mounted on one of said caniers, and each comprising aninflatable membrane, stationary means for supplying air under pressure,means including said conveyor for moving said carriers successively pastsaid stationary means and to place one end of each cigarette in fluidcommunication with said air supply means to receive air under pressuretherefrom, said air supply means being elongated in the direction oftravel of the article so that said one end of each cigarette receivessaid air under pressure for a substantial period of time, and couplingmeans to place the other end of each cigarette in fluid communicationwith the testing device on its carrier, each said membrane beinginflated by air from said supply means if the cigarette through which itreceives the air is without leaks.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10, for testing cigarettes for airleaks, in which said coupling means comprises a restriction to delay theflow of air into said membrane.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11, in which said restriction isvariable.

13. Apparatus for testing cigarettes for air leaks in the coveringmaterial, comprising fluid conveying coupling members having inwardlytapering end surfaces, means to move said coupling members into fluidtight resilient engagement with the ends of a cigarette, means to supplyair under pressure to one of the coupling mernbers, a pressureresponsive testing device, and means connecting the other couplingmember to said testing device.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 13, for testing cigarettes, comprisingan underlying support for a cigarette g ooved to hold the cigaretteagainst rolling movement,

9 said groove being aligned with said coupling members, said support andgroove terminating short of the ends of the cigarette so as not tointerfere with the coupling members as they engage said ends.

15. Apparatus for testing cigarettes for air leaks, comprising a supportfor a cigarette having a groove to hold the cigarette against rollingmovement, said groove being shorter than the cigarette, said supportbeing cut away adjacent the ends of the cigarette, a firstfluid-conveying coupling fixed on the support and aligned with one endof the groove, a second fluid-conveying coupling mounted on the supportin alignment with the other end of the groove and movable toward andaway from the groove, means to move said second coupling toward saidgroove to engage one end of a cigarette in said groove and to push thecigarette along the groove until it engages said first coupling, meansto supply air under pressure to one of said couplings, and a pressureresponsive test device connected to the other of said couplings.

16. Apparatus for testing cigarettes for air leaks, comprising aconveyor including a plurality of carriers for individual cigarettes andmeans linking said carriers together, a pressure responsive test deviceon each said carrier including an inflatable membrance, means adjacentthe path of movement of said conveyor for supplying air under pressure,said air supply means comprising a stationary fluid-conveying couplinghaving stubstantial length in the direction of movement of saidconveyor, means cooperating with each carrier to couple one end of acigarette thereon to the test device thereon, and to couple the otherend of the cigarette to said stationary coupling, said coupling meansand said air supply means cell, means to direct a beam of light along apath impinging on said photocell and alongside said conveyor and subjectto interruption by inflated membranes passing on said conveyor, andmeans controlled by the photocell to eject from the conveyor allcigarettes whose associated membrane is not inflated sufficiently tointerrupt the beam of light.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS669,529 Kennedy Mar. 12, 1901 1,384,888 Carlisle July 19, 1921 1,536,090Foisy May 5, 1925 1,846,808 Hohn et al. Feb. 23, 1932 2,061,744 TempleNov. 24, 1936 2,168,419 Paterson Aug. 8, 1939 2,261,802 Gooden Nov. 4,1941 2,377,123 Ballamy et al May 29, 1945 2,534,830 Philo Dec. 19, 19502,551,645 Stadelman May 8, 1951 2,594,327 Maher Apr. 29, 1952 2,730,234Bickley Ian. 10, 1956 "membrance" read membrane UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent Nor 2,951,364 September 6 1960Joseph He Sherrill "It is hereby certified that error appears inthe-printed specification of the above numbered patent requiringcorrection and that the said Letters Patent should read as correctedbelow.

Column 4, lines 43 and 44 for "coupling members 25e and the ridges 32and grooves 26" read coupling members 25 and the ridges 32 and grooves25c column 9, line 24h for Signed and sealed this. llth' day of April1961",

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER ARTHUR W. CROCKER Attesting Oflicer Actmg Commissionerof Patents

